Toy racing game with rotating arm and separate sub-rotor drive



June 20, 1967 c. w. WARREN 3,325,555

TOY RACING GAME WITH ROTATING ARM AND SEPARATE SUB-ROTOR DRIVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July :5; I963 INVENTOR. CHARLES W. WARREN BY FiG.9

Jun 0. 6 c. w. WARREN TOY RACING GAME WITH ROTATING ARM AND SEPARATE SUB-ROTOR DRIVE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 5, i963 INVENTOR. CHARLES W. WARREN June 20, 1967 c. w. WARREN TING ARM AND SEPARATE SUB-ROTOR DRIVE TOY RACING GAME WITH ROTA 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 3, 1963 INVENTOR. W. WARREN CHARLES BY J United States Patent 3,326,555 TOY RACING GAME WITH ROTATING ARM AND SEPARATE SUB-ROTOR DRIVE Charles W. Warren, 205 Wisteria Drive, Melbourne, Fla. 32901 Filed July 3, 1963, Ser. No. 292,622 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-86) This invention relates in general to mechanical toys and more particularly to a game simulating auto racing.

Auto racing games prior to this invention fail to maintain participant interest largely because of the relatively few cars involved and known sequence of operation which resulted in anticipation of the so-called winners by the operator. Furthermore, prior games of this general character fail to provide desired entertainment because of constant speed operation and the predictable results resulting from predetermined operation.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantages by the provision of an auto racing vgame in which several rows of cars may participate in a realistic manner including means for controlling the speed of the cars and the relative positions of the competing cars are radically altered by a relatively non-predictable position control, which features are principal objects of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a magnet means for forming a plurality of rows of miniature cars for travel in a circular course including means whereby during their travel on the course, each car in each row can successively and intermittently change positions in any one of the rows under the skilled but not definite manipulation of a position control.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a motor driven rotor positioned to rotate about a vertical axis including speed control means for rotating a plurality of permanent magnets around a predetermined course including separate means for moving the magnets on the rotor for independent variable speeds during the rotation of the rotor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a motor driven rotor means for moving a plurality of magnets around a predetermined course at predetermined variable speeds including an independent motor driven belt means for driving said magnets through a predetermined minor course at predetermined variable speeds while driven by said rotor means for changing the relative position of each of a plurality of carsmoved by said magnets on a planar board positioned above and in close proximity with said magnets.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the auto racing game in reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of one of the toy cars shown in FIG. 1 with a portion thereof broken away.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the racing game in reduced scale with a portion of the track broken away.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken through section line 4-4, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through section line 55, FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken through section line 6-6, FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through section line 77, FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken through section line 88, FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of the game.

3,326,555 Patented June 20, 1967 Referring to FIG. 1, a casing 1 serves as a housing for the entire game and a planar sheet of dielectric material 2 is secured in the top as shown which contains a circular curb therein marking the outer perimeter of a smooth planar race course 3 marked thereon. In this embodiment, six miniature race cars, numbered 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are positioned in starting formation in three rows of two. Each car is provided with four anti-friction free rotating Wheels, better shown in FIG. 2. The casing 1 is provided with a front control panel 10 which retains a start-stop switch 11, a speed control 12 and a position control 13 and stop-start switch 14 therefor. A housing 15 secured to the rear of the game encloses a lap indicator 16 to be hereinafter described. A power cord 17 is provided for insertion in a source of electric power.

Each miniature car, shown FIG. 2, is preferably made of plastic material and contoured to simulate professional race cars and is provided with a permanent magnet rod 18, poled as shown, secured in a tube 19 fixed in the base of each car.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6 a vertical shaft 20 is retained by thrust bearing 21 and bushing 22 for rotation in a vertical standard 23 fixed to the base of easing 1. A rotor member 24 is secured to the upper end of shaft 20 for rotation therewith. A variable speed drive mot-or 25 includes a self contained speed reducer which terminates in a drive pinion 26 for rotation about a vertical axis, and referring to FIG. 7, the pinion 26 is meshed with driven gear 27 secured to rotor member 24 and positioned coaxial with shaft 20. A commutator assembly comprises a dielectric bushing 28 secured to the upper portion of shaft 20 including a pair of concentric slip rings 29 and 30 positioned in spaced relation thereon.

A pair of brushes 31 and 32 are secured and insulated by dielectric means to a bracket 33 fixed to standard 23 as shown. The internal connections to the slip rings will be hereinafter described.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, a pair of vertical shafts 34 and 35 are secured in the outer ends of the forked portion of the rotor member 24. A pair of wheels 36 and 37 having a V groove in the outer peripheries thereof are journalled for rotation on shafts 34 and 35, respectively, including a V belt 38, preferably made from rubberfabric composition engaged in driving relation on both pulleys 36 and 37 forming a sub-rotor, as shown. A second electric motor 39 is secured to rotor member 24 by a bracket 40 which has a friction drive bushing 41 on th shaft extension thereof as shown, with the bushing in frictional engagement with the periphery of wheel 36.

Thus it is apparent when the motor 39 is energized the Wheel 36 will drive the belt and wheel 37 at a speed determined by the speed of the motor. Four cross arms 42 are centrally secured to the belt in equi-spaced relation .by integral projections 43 positioned normal to each arm and secured to the belt by rivets 44 as shown in FIG. 5.

A permanent drive magnet 45, preferably of the ceramic type, is secured to each outer end of the cross arms 42 with the polarity of the upper side poled south in order to provide attraction to the north pole of the magnet in each of the cars which corresponds to the front end thereof.

The weight of the magnet drive means at the forked end of the rotor member 24 is balanced by counterweight 46 secured to the opposite end of the rotor member.

Referring to FIG. 4, a toothed disc 47 is provided with the numbered lap indicator thereon for indicating the number of laps for each race. The disc is pivoted for rotation on .a stud 48 secured in casing 1 as shown in FIG. 6. A finger 49 secured to the rotor member 24 projects therefrom for sequential engagement with each tooth on the disc 47 for moving the disc a segment corresponding to each rotation of the rotor member, thus indicating the number of laps in any given race.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the speed of the cars in traversing the course is governed by a variable resistor 50 illustrated in FIG. 9, and controlled by knob 12 (FIG. 1). The velocity of the belt 38 of the corresponding cyclic movement of magnets 45 is controlled by a variable resistor 51 under the control of knob 13 of motor 39.

Referring to FIG. 9 a conductor 52 is connected to one conductor in power cord 17, to the motor 25, and to brush 32. The remaining terminal of motor 25 is connected by conductor 53 to one terminal of resistor 50. The remaining terminal of resistor 50 is connected by conductor 54 to both poles of switches 11 and 14. The remaining terminal of switch 11 is connected by conductor 55 to the remaining conductor in power cord 17. The remaining terminal of switch 14 is connected by conductor 56 to resistor 51' and the remaining terminal of resistor 51 is connected by conductor 57 to brush 31 and the mating slip ring 29 thereof is connected by conductor 58 to one terminal of motor 39. The remaining terminal of motor 39 is connected by conductor 59 to slip ring 30 which is mated with brush 32.

Thus it is apparent that when the switch 11 is closed, the motor 25 will be energized and the speed thereof controlled by resistor 50 and it is also apparent that when the switch 14 is closed a circuit will be completed to the motor 39 through slip rings 29 and 30 and the speed thereof controlled by the adjustment of resistor 51.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, an auxiliary magnet 60 is secured to the rotor member 24 for rotation in proximity with the inner edge of the race course 3 for the purpose of attracting and moving a race car which is moved into the infield, out of the range of the magnets 45. When the rotor completes a revolution, the magnet 60 will attract an infield stationary car and move same back into the course Where it can be picked up by one of the magnets on the rotor member and again driven around the course. i

In operation and referring to FIG. 1, the six toy cars are placed in three rows, as shown, and the switch 11 moved into start position. This will energize the motor 25 and begin the rotation of the rotor member and the magnets 45. As the magnets 45 are moved under each car, the latter will be attracted thereby to roll on the surface of the course 3 in predetermined alignment since only the forward'end of the magnet in each car will be attracted by the opposite polarity of the moving magnet.

The speed of the cars traversing the course is controlled by the knob 12 which will increase or decrease the speed of the rotor according to the settings of the resistor 50.

The relative positions of the cars in traversing the course are controlled by the magnets 45 while the rotor member is in operation. The magnets 45 on the sub-rotor are cycled by the belt 38 by closing the switch 14 and adjusting the speed of the motor 39 and the cyclic movement of the magnets 45 by adjusting the position of knob 13.

Thus by manipulating the controls 12 and 13, it is possible to produce a very realistic race in which positions of various cars are interchanged while traveling at predetermined speeds. It is also apparent that it is possible to adjust the speed of the rotary member and the motion of the magnets 45 to produce unpredictable events, such as collisions, off track crashes, and surprise winners.

It is also apparent and comprehended that the speed of the rotor member can be controlled by mechanical drive means rather than the 'resistor control of a variable speed motor. 7

It is also apparent that other groups of magnets 45 may be driven by similar belt means having a longer or irregular shape in order to accommodate more toy cars on the course at one time and to modify their paths of movement.

It is understood that certain modifications to the above construction using the features described are intended to come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

In a toy racing game of the character described a means forming a housing, said housing including a non magnetic platform of uniform thickness and having a planar upper surface forming a race course, a main rotor journalled for rotation in said housing under said platform about an axis normal to and substantially central therewith, an electric drive means in said housing coupled to said rotor for rotating same when energized, a subrotor journalled for rotation on one end portion of said main 'rotor about an axis normal to said platform, an electric motor on said main rotor coupled to said subrotor constructed and adapted to rotate same when energized, a plurality of permanent traction magnets secured in spaced relation on said sub-rotor positioned for movement in close parallel proximity with the under surface of said platform, a plurality of mobile simulated race objects resting by gravity on said platform surface for movement on said course, each of said objects including a permanent magnet therein positioned for predetermined mutual attraction with a corresponding said traction magnet, a source of electric energy, independent electric control means connecting said drive means and said electric motor with said source of energy respectively adapted to manually and independently control the speed of said drive means and said electric motor when operated, whereby each of said traction magnets will move each corresponding said object in a plurality of paths around said course when each of said electric means is operated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,360 9/1963 Miller et a1. 273 -86 FOREIGN PATENTS 483,073 1938 GreatBritain.

629,834 9/1949 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, 1,048,527, Jan. 7, 1959.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, RICHARD C. PINKHAM,

Examiners.

S. FELDMAN, M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiners. 

